Pawlenty deflects 2012 speculation

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced Tuesday that he’ll not seek a third term next year, clearing his plate for a potential run at the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

“When it comes to how long someone should stay in elected office, a little less is better than too much,” Pawlenty said at news conference in St. Paul, Minn. “Time marches on, and now it’s time to give someone else a chance.”

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Pawlenty repeatedly deflected speculation that his decision frees him for a presidential bid. “I don’t know what my plans are,” he said. “I don’t know what the future holds for me.”

The governor said that he just finalized his decision “over the last week to 10 days,” and had not yet settled on any future plans.

With no re-election campaign, though, Pawlenty said he’s looking forward to more frequently injecting his voice into the national debate. But he swore to continue working hard as governor, especially in addressing the state’s budget difficulties.

“I have 19 months left in my term, so this is not a wake,” he said.

“As time and circumstances allow, I’m going to use my time to lend my voice and ideas to the policy debate both here and nationally, if I’m asked,” the governor added, pointing out several times that his Republican Party needs “new ideas.”

Pawlenty plans to be in Washington late this week to deliver the keynote address Friday at the national convention of College Republicans.

He'll also speak at a luncheon for the Washington chapter of the Republican National Lawyers Association and be the guest of honor at a reception sponsored by a small cadre of former campaign aides to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) congressional staffers and GOP consultants, including some who could work on a Pawlenty presidential campaign.

The trip had been scheduled before the governor announced his decision not to run for reelection, but it will likely only further the widely held view that he’s eyeing a 2012 race.

Republicans close to Pawlenty say the move should not be taken as a definitive sign that he’ll run for president, but pointed out that it clearly offers him more flexibility to explore the option.

Pawlenty “loved being governor, but I also think that he had a sense that maybe two terms was enough for anybody,” said former Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.), who has known Pawlenty since college.

Weber added that Pawlenty “wants to be involved in the national debate,” which will likely be “interpreted as him leaning to run for president.”

“He certainly has more time, and I think you will see him much more active in the public arena,” Weber said.

A GOP strategist close to Pawlenty said the governor’s future “is an open question,” insisting though that any 2012 ambitions did “absolutely not” drive his decision. The strategist did acknowledge, however, that building a presidential campaign organization would be easier for Pawlenty without the responsibilities of office.

“It liberates you from the daily grind of the governor’s office, which frees you to build an organization and travel,” the strategist explained.

In addition to clearing his schedule, Pawlenty’s decision not to run frees him of strict Minnesota ethics laws that make it difficult for state officials to participate in political events outside the state.

“He is meticulous about not mixing his official and political duties, so he will be cautious about putting together any sort of political organization while still governor of Minnesota,” Weber said.

Carleton College political scientist Steve Schier, a close observer of Minnesota politics, agreed that the state’s ethics restrictions could be motivating Pawlenty, but that it’s more likely he’s not particularly enthusiastic about the prospects for a successful third term.